“TESSIE.”
BY A. WESTON W.
“Dunno, miss.”
“But, Tessie, you must know where you got it.”
“’Deed, miss, I dunno no more’n de dade. I nebber tuk it none: it jes’ comed.”
“Just came! O Tessie, Tessie! are you never going to be good?”
“I is good, miss,” said the little colored girl, who could not seem to learn how very wicked it is to take other people’s property, and who had never been taught it is wrong to tell an untruth.
“Yes, Tessie, you are good about some things,” I said; “but you are not good when you take things out of my room, as you did last night.”
“Deed, miss, I nebber tuk it none: it jes’ comed.”
“Tessie,” I said solemnly, “what will you do when God asks you about this.”
“I jes’ say I dunno nuffin’ ’tall ’bout it.”
“But you can’t tell a lie about it to God, for he saw you take it.”
“Reckon ye’re out dar, ’cause it were dark as Egyp,” said Tessie, grinning at me, and showing a row of white teeth and a pair of large black eyes.
“But, Tessie,” I said, “that makes no difference; God sees you all the time, and knows what you do in the dark, just as well as what you do when it is light.”
The girl’s expression changed, and she looked about her stealthily, as though in some dark corner she expected to see some one looking at her. Failing in that, she looked back at me, and said:
“’Tain’t wurth while ter vex ’im.”
“No, Tessie,” I said, “it’s not right to vex any one who has been kind to us; and God does more for us than any earthly friends we have.”
“Reckon ef I puts it back in de dark agin, he’ll see it?”
“Yes, Tessie, God will see you, whether you put it back at night, or in the day.”
“Den it’ll be all right?”
“If you make up your mind never to take again what does not belong to you.”
“S’posen His head’s turned round the wrong way, an’ He don’t see me?”
“God’s head is never turned round, Tessie; it is always towards us.”
That evening I watched Tessie to see the effect of our conversation, and soon after dark I discovered her on her way to my room, with the little thermometer she had taken from it the night before.
After that, there seemed to be a decided change in Tessie, which pleased me very much; but I was even more pleased when, one day, I found her with a bottle of cologne in her hand, and heard what she was saying.
“I reckon it smells kind o’ good, an’ I reckon I’d like ter hab it; but de good God’s a-lookin’ on, an’ he moight ax ’bout it some day.”
My little friends, would it not be well if we could take that as a sort of watch-word—“He might ask about it some day”? Do we not all do little things quietly, in a kind of slurring way, as if they wouldn’t count? And yet we would be ashamed to be asked about them. Remember that everything counts, and that “He might ask about it some day.”—Well-Spring.
RECEIPTS FOR DECEMBER, 1881.
| MAINE, $556.18. | |
| Augusta. John Dorr, $15; Mrs. D. A. F., 50c. | $15.50 |
| Bangor. Central Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 100.00 |
| Bethel. Mrs. E. W. W. | 1.00 |
| Boothbay. Mrs. F. H. | 0.67 |
| Brewer. M. Hardy, $50; Sab. Sch. ofF’st Cong. Ch., $15, for John Brown, St’r | 55.00 |
| Brewer. First Cong. Ch. | 7.40 |
| Calais. “A Friend,” for Student Aid,Talladega C. | 10.00 |
| Falmouth. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 7.20 |
| Falmouth. First Ch., Bbl. of C.; SecondCh., 2 Bbls. of C.; For Freight, $7; “AFriend,” $1, for Selma, Ala. | 8.00 |
| Farmington Falls. Cong. Ch. | 6.18 |
| Gorham. Cong. Ch. and Soc., bal. toconst. Miss Mary C. Hinkley, MissMary E. Smith and Dr. H. H. Hunt L.Ms | 33.41 |
| Limerick. Ladies, 2 Boxes of C., forRaleigh, N.C. | |
| Limerick. S. F. H. | 0.50 |
| Machias. Centre St. Cong. Ch. | 7.22 |
| Newport. Mrs. M. S. N. | 1.00 |
| New Sharon. First Cong. Ch. | 5.82 |
| No. Bridgton. Co’g Ch. & Soc., $3; C. H. G., 50c | 3.50 |
| Norridgewock. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $40;Individuals, for Mag., $1.50 | 41.50 |
| North Vassalborough. Joseph White | 10.00 |
| Orland. M. C. Trott ($4 of which forIndian M.) | 8.00 |
| Portland. Second Parish Ch. and Soc. | 134.78 |
| Richmond. S. S. | 0.50 |
| Searsport. Cong. Sab. Sch., for StudentAid, Atlanta U. | 15.00 |
| Skowhegan. Mrs. S. P. | 1.00 |
| Union. Bbl. of C., for Selma, Ala. | |
| Sweden. Mrs. D. N. | 0.50 |
| Westbrook. Warren Ch. and Soc., toconst. John E. Warren and HezekiahElwell L.Ms | 60.00 |
| Woolwich. Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 14.50 |
| York. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 8.00 |
| RHODE ISLAND, $638.22. | |
| Barrington. Cong. Ch., $50, and Sab.Sch., $10 | 60.00 |
| Bristol. Mrs. M. D. W. R. | 1.00 |
| Central Falls. Cong. Ch. | 78.82 |
| Pawtucket. Wm. E. Tolman, $5; M. H. G., 50c. | 5.50 |
| Providence. Union Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 492.90 |
| Providence. Miss Maria Eddy, Bundle ofC., for Indian Girls’ Sewing Sch., Hampton N. & A. Inst. | |
| Providence. 2 large Boxes of C., forWashington, D.C. | |
| NEW JERSEY, $173.57. | |
| Belleville. J. B. | 1.00 |
| Colt’s Neck. Reformed Ch. | 5.00 |
| East Orange. Mrs. G. A. Titus ($2.50 ofwhich for Mendi M.) | 3.00 |
| Jersey City. First Cong. Ch. | 60.57 |
| Montclair. Sab. Sch. of First Cong. Ch.,$53 for Student Aid, Fisk U., and $35for support of Indian Girl, HamptonN. & A. Inst. | 88.00 |
| Montclair. Mrs. J. H. Pratt’s S. S. Class,for Student Aid, Talladega C. | 8.00 |
| Montclair. First Cong. Ch. | 3.00 |
| Raritan. Miss S. Provost, $4 and Box ofPapers | 4.00 |
| Rahway. Mrs. B. T. | 1.00 |
| PENNSYLVANIA, $81.30. | |
| Cambridgeborough. Rev. W. G. | 1.00 |
| Philadelphia. E. S. M., $1; B. F. B. andG. C. H., 50c. each | 2.00 |
| Pittsburgh. B. Preston, $50; PlymouthCong. Ch., $23.30 | 73.30 |
| Providence. Welsh Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 5.00 |
| OHIO, $780.75. | |
| Akron. First Cong. Sab. Sch., for StudentAid, Fisk U. | 50.00 |
| Ashtabula. Cong. Sab. Sch., for TalladegaC. | 25.00 |
| Beloit. M. H. | 1.00 |
| Bissells. Mrs. S. H. E. | 1.00 |
| Brownhelm. Cong. Ch. | 17.25 |
| Chagrin Falls. “Earnest Workers,” forStudent Aid, Tougaloo U. | 13.00 |
| Chagrin Falls. First Cong. Ch. | 11.22 |
| Cincinnati. Storrs Ch. Sab. Sch. | 30.00 |
| Cleveland. Franklin Av. Cong. Ch. andSab. Sch., $18.50; Miss M. P., 50c.; MissA. W., 50c. | 19.50 |
| Cleveland. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch. ofthe Heights, for Student Aid, Fisk U. | 16.00 |
| Cleveland. “A Friend,” Piano, for Theo.Dept. Talladega C. | |
| Columbus. Welsh Cong. Ch. | 5.00 |
| Conneaut. H. E. Pond | 5.00 |
| Coolville. Rev. C. Mowery | 5.00 |
| East Cleveland. Mrs. Milton Hubby, forCooking Sch., Talladega C. | 10.00 |
| Fostoria. J. D. De C. | 0.50 |
| Geneva. W. C. Pancost | 2.00 |
| Gustavus. “Ladies,” for Freight | 2.00 |
| Jersey. Mrs. Lucinda Sinnet | 20.00 |
| Mansfield. First Cong. Sab. Sch., forStudent Aid, Fisk U. | 25.00 |
| Marietta. Rev. I. M. P. | 0.50 |
| Martinsburgh. Horatio Hough, $5;A. H. A., $1 | 6.00 |
| North Benton. Simon Hartzel | 5.00 |
| North Bloomfield. Mrs. E. H. Brown,$5; Miss Annie E. Brown, $5, forCooking Sch., Talladega C. | 10.00 |
| North Eaton. Mrs. M. O. | 1.00 |
| North Fairfield. Sab. Sch. of Cong.Ch. | 5.84 |
| Norwalk. First Cong. Ch. | 13.00 |
| Norwalk. Mrs. Dr. Newton, $1.50; Mrs.Dr. R., 50c., for Cooking Sch., TalladegaC. | 2.00 |
| Oberlin. J. W. Merrill, $100; J. B.Clarke, $10 | 110.00 |
| Oberlin. Second Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch.,for Student Aid, Atlanta U. | 30.00 |
| Oberlin. Sab. Sch. of First Cong. Ch.,for John Brown Steamer | 12.50 |
| Peru. “Friends,” for Freight | 2.40 |
| Salem. Asa W. Allen, for John BrownSteamer | 10.00 |
| South Ridge. Mrs. U. Haviland | 2.00 |
| Springfield. Cong. Ch. | 5.04 |
| Wadsworth. M. J. H. | 0.50 |
| Wellington. E. W. | 0.50 |
| Weymouth. Cong. Ch., for Student Aid,Tougaloo U. | 5.00 |
| Youngstown. “An old Friend” | 1.00 |
| ——— | |
| 480.75 | |
| LEGACY. | |
| Seville. Estate of Lyman W. Strong,by Chas. S. Strong, Ex. | 300.00 |
| ——— | |
| 780.75 | |
| INDIANA, $4.25. | |
| Westchester. Cong. Ch. | 4.25 |
| MICHIGAN, $216.52. | |
| Battle Creek. J. E. W., $1; Mrs. S. A. G.,54c. | 1.54 |
| Battle Creek. Cong. and Presb. Sab.Sch., Box of S. S. Books, for Talladega,Ala. | |
| Birmingham. Mrs. A. D. S. | 1.00 |
| Detroit. Mrs. E. E. S., $1; Mrs. W. S. P., 50c. | 1.50 |
| Galesburgh. “Friends,” for FurnishingRoom, Talladega C. | 25.00 |
| Greenville. Hon. C. C. Ellsworth, $35,for Furnishing Room; Cong. Sab. Sch.,$27.98, for Student Aid, Talladega C. | 62.98 |
| Jackson. “The Willing Workers,” byRev. J. W. Hough, for John BrownSteamer | 10.00 |
| Kalamo. Mrs. S. E. B., for John BrownSteamer | 1.00 |
| Marble. Mrs. J. Barnes | 5.00 |
| Milford. Wm. A. Arms to const. SanfordAvery Arms L. M. | 30.00 |
| Parma. Mrs. M. B. Tanner | 2.00 |
| Pentwater. Cong. Ch. | 6.00 |
| Port Huron. L. W. Rice and family | 5.00 |
| Portland. Cong. Ch. | 7.00 |
| Romeo. Cong. Ch. | 51.50 |
| Vassar. Mrs. O. W. Selden | 2.00 |
| Warren. “A Friend” | 5.00 |
| WISCONSIN, $167.66. | |
| Clinton. John H. Cooper | 5.00 |
| Columbus. Olivet Cong. Sab. Sch., forJohn Brown Steamer | 10.00 |
| Beloit. Second Cong. Ch., $31.92; FirstCong. Ch., $19.05; Mrs. B. D., $1;W. P., 51c. | 52.48 |
| Beloit. Prof. J. Emerson, for TalladegaC. | 5.00 |
| Brandon. Ladies of Cong. Ch. forLady Missionary, Talladega, Ala. | 1.38 |
| Brandon. Box of C., for Tougaloo U. | |
| Delavan. Cong. Sab. Sch., Box of C., forTalladega, Ala. | |
| Durand. Cong. Ch. | 5.00 |
| Emerald Grove. Cong. Ch. and Soc. | 3.00 |
| Evansville. N. W. | 1.00 |
| Fort Howard. Ladies of Cong. Ch., forLady Missionary, Talladega, Ala. | 5.00 |
| Janesville. Mrs. F. S. Eldred, for JohnBrown Steamer | 10.00 |
| Peshtigo. Rev. L. W. Winslow, for TalladegaC. | 5.00 |
| Racine. Mrs. R. Canfield, $5; C. A.Weed, $2 | 7.00 |
| Raymond. T. Sands | 2.00 |
| Ripon. “Family of Sister of Hon. E. P.Smith,” for Furnishing Room, TalladegaC. | 25.00 |
| Ripon. “J. A. T.” | 6.00 |
| Union Grove. Cong. Ch. | 16.71 |
| Walworth. Mrs. D. R. S. Colton | 5.00 |
| West Salem. Ladies of Cong. Ch., forLady Missionary, Talladega, Ala. | 2.59 |
| Windsor. H. H. S. | 0.50 |
| MINNESOTA, $197.58. | |
| Campbell. Rev. S. F. Porter | 10.00 |
| Douglass. Cong. Ch. | 5.00 |
| Faribault. “Helping Hands,” for StudentAid, Tougaloo U. | 10.00 |
| Glyndon. “The Church at Glyndon,”for Talladega C. | 4.36 |
| Minneapolis. Second Cong. Ch., for StudentAid, Fisk U. | 20.00 |
| Minneapolis. Plymouth Ch., $19.95;Pilgrim Ch., $2.30; Second Cong. Ch.,$1.20 | 23.45 |
| Minneapolis. E. D. First Cong. Ch. | 9.64 |
| Northfield. Cong. Ch. | 81.17 |
| Plainview. Cong. Ch., $17, and Sab.Sch., $4 | 21.00 |
| Rushford. ———, for John BrownSteamer | 0.46 |
| Saint Paul. C. S. C. | 0.50 |
| Sauk Center. Cong. Sab. Sch., for JohnBrown Steamer | 10.00 |
| Sauk Center. James A. Norris | 2.00 |
| KANSAS, $23.50. | |
| Burlingame. “A Friend” | 1.00 |
| Manhattan. Cong. Ch., Mrs. Mary Parker | 10.00 |
| Meriden. Mrs. J. Rutty | 10.00 |
| Oswego. E. F. S. | 0.50 |
| Solomon City. M. W. E. | 1.00 |
| Stockton. Cong. Ch. | 1.00 |
| NEBRASKA, $49.95. | |
| Blair. Sab. Sch. Classes Cong. Ch., forJohn Brown Steamer | 5.00 |
| Exeter. Mrs. B. R. and Mrs. C. A. B.,50c. ea. | 1.00 |
| Fremont. First Cong. Ch., $16.95, andSab. Sch., $13 | 29.95 |
| Omaha. “K. and C.” | 8.00 |
| Oxford. Rev. S. N. Grout | 5.00 |
| Waverly. J. G. E. | 1.00 |
| MISSOURI, $19.24. | |
| Saint Louis. First Cong. Ch. | 19.24 |
| DAKOTA, $2.00. | |
| Jamestown. Mrs. M. S. Wells | 2.00 |
| CALIFORNIA, $10.00. | |
| National City. Theron Parsons, forJohn Brown Steamer | 10.00 |
| OREGON, $5.75. | |
| Forest Grove. Cong. Ch., $3.75; W. D. L., $1; M. F. L., $1 | 5.75 |
| MARYLAND, $5.00. | |
| Federalsburgh. Sarah A. Beals | 5.00 |
| TENNESSEE, $588.65. | |
| Memphis. Le Moyne Sch., Tuition | 227.75 |
| Memphis. First Cong Ch., for Organ | 50.00 |
| Nashville. Fisk University, Tuition | 310.40 |
| Nashville. Mrs. S. | 0.50 |
| NORTH CAROLINA, $197.50. | |
| Wilmington. Normal School, Tuition,$192.50; Cong. Ch., $5 | 197.50 |
| SOUTH CAROLINA, $337.00. | |
| Charleston. Avery Inst., Tuition, $317;Cong. Ch., $20 | 337.00 |
| GEORGIA, $526.10. | |
| Atlanta. Atlanta University, Tuition,$119.40; Rent, $3 | 122.40 |
| Atlanta. Storrs School, Tuition | 161.60 |
| Macon. Lewis High School, Tuition,$77.15; Cong. Ch., $5 | 82.15 |
| McIntosh. Tuition | 7.80 |
| Savannah. Beach Institute, Tuition,$139.50; Rent, $12.65 | 152.15 |
| ALABAMA, $508.02. | |
| Anniston. Tuition | 1.50 |
| Athens. Trinity School, Tuition | 14.25 |
| Marion. Cong. Ch. | 1.60 |
| Mobile. Emerson Institute, Tuition,$174.05; Cong. Ch., $2.15 | 176.20 |
| Montgomery. Public Fund | 175.00 |
| Selma. Cong. Ch., $11; Mrs. W. R., $1 | 12.00 |
| Talladega. Talladega College, Tuition | 104.87 |
| Talladega. First Cong. Ch., $11.10;Members of Prof. Geo. N. Ellis’ BibleClass, Theo. Students, $11.50, forJohn Brown Steamer | 22.60 |
| MISSISSIPPI, $114.50. | |
| Jackson. A. W. | 0.50 |
| Tougaloo. Tougaloo University, Tuition | 111.50 |
| Tougaloo. “W. H. T.” for Strieby Hall,Tougaloo U. | 2.50 |
| LOUISIANA, $168.90. | |
| New Orleans. Straight University, Tuition | 163.90 |
| New Orleans. G. F. Jewett, for StudentAid, Straight U. | 5.00 |
| TEXAS, $157.10. | |
| Austin. Tillotson C. and N. Inst., Tuition | 154.00 |
| Corpus Christi. Cong. Ch., $1.55;Cong. Sab. Sch., for John BrownSteamer, $1.55 | 3.10 |
| INCOME FUND, $665.00. | |
| Theological Endowment Fund, for HowardU. | 375.00 |
| Avery Fund, for Mendi M. | 190.00 |
| C. F. Dike Fund, for Straight U. | 50.00 |
| General Fund | 50.00 |
| CANADA, $2.00. | |
| Paris. Mrs. Sarah Hamilton | 2.00 |
| BULGARIA, $15.00. | |
| Samokov. Rev. J. F. Clark | 15.00 |
| ———, $1.89. | |
| ———. Small sums received forpostage from April 14, 1880, to Dec.16, 1881 | 1.89 |
| ———. Three Bbls. of C., for Talladega,Ala. | |
| ———— | |
| Total | 21,323.84 |
| Total from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 | $55,204.62 |
| ========= | |
H. W. HUBBARD, Treas.,
56 Reade St., N.Y.